Mesoamerican vision of the cosmos, different kinds of death
Dr David J Guzman National Museum of El Salvador, San SalvadorMesoamerican vision of the cosmos
Mictlantecuhtli
Natural death without distinction of classes.
Tlalocan
Drowned in any body of water, death by pneumonia, leprosy, respiratory affections and struck by lightning.
Tonatiuh
Death of warriors during battle, dead women during first birth and victims of sacrifice.
Cinteotl
Newborn that died during birth.
In the Mesoamerican vision of the cosmos there were no concepts of "heaven" or "hell", or the concept of punishment for sin. The actions of the humans were not judged, the destiny of the soul depended on the circumstances of death, also related to a determined deity. For the Nahua inhabitants of the Posclassic period, the underworld was called "the place of the dead" or Mictlan, which entrance was located in caves, ponds or sinkholes that conducted the dead to several stages consisting in nine dark and humid levels that had to be crossed in four years.
After the journey, helped by a dog called Xolotl, the last level was reached where Mictlantecuhtli (Lord of the dead) reigned. Here was the final rest and after some time the souls could go back temporarily to the living world as butterflies or hummingbirds.
There were two other places of destiny for the persons that died in special circumstances; for example, the Tialocan (Paradise of Tialoc), place of destiny for those who drowned in lakes or rivers, killed by lightning and victims of lung diseases; in this place ponds and fertile outcrops were found, as well as ball courts. The Tonatiuhuichan (Paradise of the Sun), that was occupied by the path of the sun since its emergence in the east to its setting in the west, occupied by sacrificial victims warriors and women dead while having their first born. Finally, Cincalco (Paradise of the dead infants during birth), a place where a gourd tree with breasts existed and where the dead new born fed.
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